Geographical Description

The Broad River and the Saluda River merge to form the Congaree River, which then flows southeast for fifty miles before merging with the Wateree River. The Congaree River serves as the boundary between portions of Lexington County, Calhoun County and Richland County. Its watershed encompasses 689 square miles in Richland, Lexington and Calhoun Counties. Tributaries of the Congaree River include Rocky Branch, Congaree Creek, Gills Creek, Tom’s Branch, Mill Creek, Cedar Creek, Sandy Run Creek, Big Beaver Creek, Butler’s Gut, Bates Mill Creek, and Buckhead Creek. Major transportation routes within the Basin include I-26, U.S. Highway 601, S.C. Highway 378, S.C. Highway 21, and I-77.

Land Use

Generally, land cover in the watershed is primarily forested land (54.2%), followed by forested wetland (21.8%), agricultural land (11.9%), urban land (7.4%), water (2.3% ), barren land (2.0%), and non-forested wetland (0.4%). On the Richland County side of the Congaree River, 95% of existing land use is rural in nature with the remainder being suburban. The Congaree River watershed is contained within Richland County’s Southeast Planning Area. Population within this planning area is projected to increase by 30.9% by the year 2035; however, land use is expected to remain rural. In Lexington County, the area around Silver Lake is expected to undergo substantial residential and industrial development. The area south of the City of Cayce, along I-26 and U.S. 321, is expected to experience heavy growth. The area along U.S. 176 and U.S. 21 should experience moderate industrial growth.

In the Congaree River watershed, the only known inland Carolina Bay in South Carolina is located near the intersection of Air Base Road and Lower Richland Boulevard in Richland County. Carolina Bays are small wetland depressions which are symmetrically oval in shape, with the long axis of the oval always oriented northwest to southeast. This Carolina Bay is approximately 100 acres in size.

Livestock Operations

There are nine poultry farms, one dairy farm and one swine farm located within the Congaree watershed.

Water and Sewer Service

Drinking water is supplied primarily through private wells. Municipal water supply is provided by the City of Columbia, the Town of Eastover, and the City of Cayce. On the Richland County side of the Congaree River, sewer service is provided by Richland County, East Richland Public Service District, and City of Columbia (Figure 6).

Sewer Service Areas, Richland County Comprehensive Plan (2009)

The City of Columbia operates a wastewater treatment plant on the Congaree River, with a permitted capacity of 60 mgd. East Richland Public Service District operates a wastewater treatment plant on Gills Creek, a tributary of the Congaree, with a permitted capacity of 13 mgd. In Lexington County, the City of Cayce operates a wastewater treatment plant on the Congaree River, with a permitted capacity of 25 mgd.

Parks, Protected Areas, and Recreational Access

Congaree National Park

Located 20 miles downstream of Columbia, Congaree National Park protects the largest contiguous area of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. This unique and increasingly rare forest ecosystem depends on the health of the Congaree River for providing periodic seasonal flooding. It was designated South Carolina’s first national park in 2003. Originally founded as Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976, the park is home to more than 15,000 acres of wilderness and covers more than 26,000 acres. A network of 20 miles of hiking trails exists within the park. Guided walks and canoe trips are offered free of charge.

Congaree River Blue Trail

The Congaree River Blue Trail is the first water trail designated a National Recreation Trail in South Carolina by the Department of Interior. It is a 50-mile recreational paddling trail on the Congaree River, extending from the City of Columbia to the Congaree National Park. More information can be found on the American Rivers website. The Blue Trail guide is available here.

Cayce/West Columbia Riverwalk

The Cayce Riverwalk Park provides approximately 2.5 miles of walkway along the west bank of the Congaree River. The longest stretch of boardwalk on the Midlands three rivers, the Cayce Riverwalk features wildlife habitats and historical reference points. At the end of the boardwalk, visitors will find themselves at the historic Government Locks. From this vantage point visitors can see the old movable dam that runs from the locks to the Richland County side of the river. From the locks, the pathway travels on to connect to the Riverland Park subdivision.

Running nearly two miles from Knox Abbott Drive to Moffatt Street, the West Columbia Riverwalk features outstanding fishing spots, and scenic views of the islands of the Congaree River and the Columbia skyline. A focus of the Riverwalk is an amphitheater near the Gervais Street Bridge.

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve comprises 460 acres and is co-managed by the S.C. Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Located in Lexington County, South Carolina, the preserve harbors the largest sandstone outcrops in the state, the only waterfall in the coastal plain, a swamp tupelo-evergreen shrub bog and a longleaf pine ecosystem. It is located in a valley at the headwaters of Hunt Branch which feeds into Second Creek and then the Congaree River.

Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve

The Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve is located in Calhoun County and comprises 201 acres containing steep, undisturbed bluffs bordering the Congaree River. The preserve harbors significant stands of American beech, oak-hickory and bottomland hardwood forest. No comparable public sites exist in the coastal plain of South Carolina. It is managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and its hiking trails and observation platforms are open to the public during daylight hours.

Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve

The Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve is comprised of 627 acres, owned and managed by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources that borders the Congaree River and the City of Cayce. It is a significant archeological site containing evidence that people have lived in and around the area for nearly 12,000 years. The Preserve is open to the public during daylight hours. A 2.5 mile hiking trail loops around the preserve.

Public Boat Landings

The West Columbia Landing is located on the west side of the Congaree River at the Gervais Street Bridge. The Jordan (Rosewood) Landing is located roughly 0.5 miles below the Government Locks. The Newman (Cayce) Landing is located slightly more than one mile below Rosewood Landing.

The endangered Roughleaf Loosestrife perennial (Lysimachia asperulaefolia) exists within a Carolina Bay located near the intersection of Airbase Road and Lower Richland Boulevard. Other endangered plant species within the watershed are Canby’s dropwort (Oxypolis canbyi), Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum), and Smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata).

Recent studies have documented activities of the endangered shortnose sturgeon in the Congaree River. Shortnose sturgeon migrate over 40 miles up the Congaree River to spawn. While all migrations to Columbia occurred during the February and March spawning period, several sturgeon returned to the lower Congaree River and remained throughout the summer and fall before moving back into Lake Marion for the winter. The endangered Carolina Heelsplitter is believed to exist in the Congaree River watershed.

As for other wildlife, the American Bald Eagle, endangered but recovering, is known to exist along the Congaree River, along with the endangered Arctic Peregrine Falcon, Brown Pelican, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Wood Stork, and Red Wolf.

Surface Water Hydrology

The Congaree River is formed by the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers just above the Gervais Street Bridge in Columbia. Consequently, flow characteristics in the river are a combination of the highly regulated releases from the Saluda Hydroelectric Project in the Lower Saluda River and the more natural flows in the Broad River. Streamflow in the Congaree River has been monitored continuously by the U.S. Geological Survey for 70 years. During that period, flows have averaged 8,800 cfs and ranged from a low of 576 cfs in 2007 to a peak of 155,000 cfs in 1976. The flood flow of record occurred in 1908 at an estimated 364,000 cfs based on gage-height records that extend back to 1891.

Historically, daily flows have been highly variable due to hydroelectric releases upstream. However, proposed changes in operations and increased minimum flow releases from the Saluda Project should stabilize daily flows. Flows vary seasonally with the greatest flows occurring in the winter months and the lowest during the summer. Local tributary streams contribute flows to a much lesser extent. The largest of these streams include Gills Creek and Cedar Creek on the north (Richland Co.) side of the river and Congaree Creek and Big Beaver Creek on the south (Lexington/Calhoun Co.) side.

Streamflow gaging stations and statistics for the Congaree River Basin

USGS Gage Name/Location/#

Period of Record

Mean Flow (cfs)

Min Daily Flow (cfs)

Max Daily Flow (cfs)

Max Peak Flow (cfs)

Congaree River at Columbia (02169500)

1939 -2009

8,800

576 (2007)

150,000 (1976)

155,000 (1976)

Congaree Cr at Cayce (02169550)

1959 - 1980

222

111 (1970)

1,600 (1959)

1,840 (1959)

Gills Cr at Columbia (02169570)

1966 - 2009

71.1

1.1 (2007)

1,730 (1986)

2,880 (1979)

Big Beaver Cr near St. Matthews (02169630)

1966 - 1993

13.6

3.9 (1988)

285 (1971)

1,360 (1971)

Cedar Cr near Hopkins (02169670)

1981 - 1985

66.2

4.2 (1982)

372 (1983)

NA

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, 2010 and Wachob et al., 2009

Real-time streamflow and/or gage height (stage) can be accessed at some stations in the basin from the U.S. Geological Service web site. The stations are listed in the table below.

Real-time gaging stations in the Congaree River Basin

Gage Name and Location

Gage Number

Stage/Flow

Congaree River at Columbia

02169500

S/F

Trib to Rocky Br above Gervais St, Columbia

021695045

S

Rocky Br above Pickens St, Columbia

021695048

S

Rocky Br at Whaley St, Columbia

021695060

S

Gills Cr at Columbia

02169570

S/F

Congaree River at Congaree NP

02169625

S

Cedar Cr at Congaree NP

02169672

S

Surface Water Quality

For water quality management purposes, the Congaree River and its tributary streams are all classified "Freshwater" by DHEC. This classification means that these waters are suitable for primary (swimming) and secondary recreation (boating, fishing), as well as, the survival and propagation of a balanced indigenous aquatic plant and animal community. The classification also means that the water is suitable for industrial and agricultural uses and for drinking water after treatment. Water quality monitoring data from DHEC indicate that recreational use is impaired in numerous locations along the Congaree River and tributary streams due to elevated fecal coliform levels. TMDL's have been approved to address the problem on Congaree Creek, Gills Creek, Lake Carolina, and Sixmile Creek. Aquatic life impairment was identified at five sites due to a variety of factors including poor macroinvertebrate assemblages, low dissolved oxygen, and high copper levels. Elevated mercury levels were found in fish samples from Forest Lake, Sesquicentennial State Park, and three locations on the Congaree River. DHEC has issued a fish consumption advisory for the entire Congaree River due to elevated mercury levels in some fish species. They advise that people limit consumption of largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and bowfin (mudfish) to one meal per week.

Impaired waters in the Congaree River Basin

Station

Description

Use

Cause

Report No.

Tmdl Approved

B-080

Broad River Diversion Canal at Cola Water Plant

Rec

FC

Rs-04521

Buckhead Creek at S-09-151 2.1 Mi Ne of Fort Motte

Al

BIO

C-071

Cedar Ck at S-40-734

Al

BIO

C-070

Congaree Ck at S-32-66

Rec

FC

C-008

Congaree Ck at US 21 at Cayce Water Intake

Rec

FC

010-04

9/16/2004

C-007a

Congaree River @ Barney Jordan Ramp

Fish

Hg

C-007f

Congaree River @ St Hwy 378

Fish

Hg

S-967

Congaree River @ Devro-Teepak Discharge Outfall

Al

Cu

S-960

Congaree River @ Gills Creek Mouth

Rec

FC

S-955

Congaree River @ Rosewood Landing

Rec

FC

S-995

Congaree River midway between Voridian Intake and Outfall

Rec

FC

S-996

Congaree River, small bend in river upstream of Westinghouse Outfall

Rec

FC

S-997

Congaree River, small bend in river upstream of Westinghouse Outfall

Rec

FC

Csb-001r

Congaree Rvr at Blossom St (Broad River)

Rec

FC

Csb - 001l

Congaree Rvr at Blossom St (Saluda River)

Rec

FC

C-007

Congaree River at US 601 (SC-001)

Fish

Hg

C-074

Congaree Rvr, West Boundary of Congaree Swamp Monument

Rec

FC

C-068

Forest Lake at Dam

Fish

Hg

C-001

Gills Ck at Brdg on US 76 (Garners Ferry Road)

Rec

FC

011n-18

11/5/2010

C-017

Gills Ck at SC 48 (Bluff Road)

Al

DO

011n-18

11/5/2010

C-017

Gills Ck at SC 48 (Bluff Road)

Rec

FC

011n-18

11/5/2010

C-025

Lk Caroline Spillway at Platt Springs Rd

Rec

FC

010-04

9/16/2004

C-021

Mill Ck at SC 262

Rec

FC

C-073

Reeder Point Br at SC 48

Rec

FC

C-046

Sesquicentennial State Park

Fish

Hg

C-005

Sixmile Ck on US 21 S of Cayce

Al

DO

C-005

Sixmile Ck on US 21 S of Cayce

Rec

FC

010-04

9/16/2004

S-950

Tom's Creek at Red Bluff Rd.

Rec

FC

S-950

Tom's Creek at Red Bluff Rd.

Al

pH

C-072

Tom's Ck at SC 48

Rec

FC

C-579

Tom's Creek at Power Line and Rr Track

Al

BIO

C-048

Windsor Lk Spillway on Windsor Lk Blvd

Al

DO

C-048

Windsor Lk Spillway on Windsor Lk Blvd

Al

DO

011n-18

11/5/2010

Source: DHEC 2010 303d List and Approved TMDL List as of 12/09/10

Wastewater Discharges

There are 28 individual permitted wastewater dischargers on the Congaree River. These include 12 domestic dischargers, 12 industrial dischargers, and four municipal. The major municipal dischargers include the City of Columbia, City of Cayce, and the City of West Columbia.

Individual NPDES Permits in the Congaree River Basin.

NPES No.

Permittee Name

Facility Type

County

Receiving Stream

SC0030651

CWS/Glenn Village

Domestic

Lexington

Tributary to First Creek

SC0030473

Shandon Terrace/Parkwood Mhp

Domestic

Lexington

Unnamed Trib-Six Mile Creek

SC0031321

TCH Properties LLC/Silver Lake

Domestic

Lexington

Tom's Br-Congaree Rv

SC0033685

Rolling Meadows Mhp

Domestic

Lexington

Tom's Branch To-Congaree River

SC0030988

Bellemeade Sd

Domestic

Lexington

Ditch-Dry Creek-Congaree River

SC0031178

Brookforest Mobile Home Est.

Domestic

Lexington

Dry Ck-Congaree River

SC0031402

Piney Grove Util/Lloydwood Sd

Domestic

Lexington

Unnamed Trib to Dry Creek

SC0031500

Rich Dist 1/Hopkins Jr. High

Domestic

Richland

Ditch-Cedar Crk-Congaree River

SC0031399

Piney Grove Ut/Franklin Park

Domestic

Richland

Cabin Br-Myers Ck-Congaree River

SC0031496

Rich Dist 1/Hopkins Elem

Domestic

Richland

Horse Pen Branch-Cabin Creek

SC0032018

Cedar Creek Mhp

Domestic

Richland

SC0031526

Rich Dist 1/Gadsden Elementary

Domestic

Richland

Ditch-Cedar Crk-Congaree River

SC0045110

Lexington Co/Edmund Landfill

Industrial

Lexington

Bear Ck -First Ck-Congaree River

SC0039021

Solar Farms Inc.

Industrial

Lexington

Pipe/St Dr/6-Mi Ck-Congaree Ck

SC0046264

Amphenol Corporation

Industrial

Richland

Ephemeral Stream-Jackson Creek

SC0003786

US Army/Fort Jackson

Industrial

Richland

Lake Katherine

SC0003786

US Army/Fort Jackson

Industrial

Richland

SC0041386

SC Dept Agric/Calibration Stat

Industrial

Richland

Storm Drain to Congaree River

SC0002062

Columbia Hydroelectric Project

Industrial

Richland

SC0001333

Eastman Chemical/SC Operations

Industrial

Calhoun

SC001848

Westinghouse Elec LLC/Columbia

Industrial

Richland

Congaree River

SC0000701

US Air National Guard/Mcentire

Industrial

Richland

SC0003786

US Army/Fort Jackson

Industrial

Richland

SC0033367

Devro Inc./Coria Division

Industrial

Calhoun

Congaree River

SC0024147

Cayce WWTP

Municipal

Lexington

Congaree River

SC0040339

SC DOT/I-26 Rest

Municipal

Calhoun

SC0038865

East Rich Co PSD/Gills Creek

Municipal

Richland

Congaree River

SC0020940

Columbia/Metro Plant

Municipal

Richland

Source: DHEC NPDES database file 2010.

Surface Water Withdrawals

There are a total of 20 surface water withdrawers in the Congaree River Basin withdrawing a total of 35,537 million gallons per year for off-stream uses. The largest withdrawers are Eastman Chemical (21,188 MG) and the City of Columbia (10,530 MG) which combined comprise 89% of all surface water withdrawals in the basin. Water use by the Columbia Canal Hydroelectric Project (242,257 MG) is considered an "instream" use; however, it diverts the water from the Broad River for 3.5 miles before discharging it back into the Congaree River. Relicensing conditions for the project require minimum flow releases into the diverted portion of the river at all time.